Ray Halbritter of the Oneida¬†Indian Nation applauds students at Cooperstown Central in New York for leading a change from the school's Redskins nickname. / Oneida Indian Nation

by Erik Brady, USA TODAY Sports

by Erik Brady, USA TODAY Sports

Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter plans to give a $10,000 check to Cooperstown (N.Y.) Central School at a board meeting Wednesday evening and to praise the students who pushed to oust the district's longtime name of Redskins.

The check is to defray the cost for new uniforms when the name Hawkeyes becomes effective on July 1.

"They're making this decision right in the shadow of the Baseball Hall of Fame," Halbritter told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday. "They're showing much more thoughtful and respectful initiatives than many of these wealthy major-league team owners. ‚?¶ These wonderful kids have done such an inclusive, respectful and thoughtful thing."

Halbritter mentioned the cartoonish image of Chief Wahoo that is the symbol of the Cleveland Indians: "High school students are showing more wisdom than these wealthy major league owners."

Hawkeyes is an elegant solution for the upstate village that was the hometown of James Fenimore Cooper, as it is a nickname of Natty Bumppo, hero of Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales series.

Halbritter, who is also CEO of Oneida Nation Enterprises, said if other high schools want to make a similar change they might also be offered assistance. He said the Washington professional football team that uses the R-word is a billion-dollar franchise "and they don't need our money."

He urged the Washington football team to follow the Cooperstown students' lead: "Here's the national team in the national capital and we want the world to believe that we have a better way of doing things. Democracy and equality for all means something to us and symbols mean things. And I just think that the national team should be representing more than a racist stereotype."

Halbritter said it is important to remember for whom the city of Washington is named.

"We were allies in the Revolutionary War and George Washington was a friend of ours," Halbritter said. "This country recognizes us specifically in treaties because of our contributions in the Revolutionary War.

"I find it very personally offensive that a man we respect, the father of our country, is recognized with a racist stereotype. I think it is disgraceful. But I suppose when you are wealthy and you are rich, you don't have to care too much what other people think."